TAITRA says trade shows generated US$57bn in orders

By Helen Ku / Staff reporter

Fri, Jan 11, 2013 - Page 14

The Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA, 外貿協會) yesterday said it has helped Taiwanese firms obtain US$57.22 billion in export orders via its exhibitions and conferences last year.

That was a significant increase of 68.29 percent from the previous year’s US$34 billion with which the council helped local companies boost exports via fairs around the world, the council said.

Emerging markets placed orders worth US$23.32 billion with Taiwanese firms last year, followed by China and developed countries, which placed about US$15.39 billion and US$18.51 billion in orders respectively, TAITRA said.

This year, the council plans to promote trade and investment opportunities in more Chinese cities and more emerging markets, chairman Wang Chih-kang (王志剛) told a press conference.

“Emerging markets offer a high potential for Taiwanese firms to expand global market shares as they make the most investments and achieved the highest economic growth rates in recent years,” Wang said. “We forecast China will become the biggest market by 2015, so we will continue our trade promotion plans in that country as well as in European, US and Japanese markets.”

The council will hold a total of nine exhibitions in China this year as well as large fairs in South Asian countries, he said.

Other than promoting intermediate and final goods in each market, TAITRA also seeks to help firms gain more orders from foreign governments’ procurement bids, such as the 2014 FIFA World Cup.